Heteroepitaxial Growth of 1T MoS 2 Nanosheets on SnO 2 with Synergetic Improvement on Photocatalytic Activity

Molybdenum disulfide has promising applications from electronics to catalysis. Facile controlled synthesis of desired MoS 2 phase and improving optical and electrical properties of MoS 2 are under intensive investigation. The significant enhancement in photocatalytic activity is found in the heteroepitaxial structure of 1T MoS 2 and SnO 2 constructed using convenient hydrothermal method compared to 1T MoS 2 . High‐resolution transmission electronic microscopy demonstrates epitaxial growth of 1T MoS 2 nanosheets on SnO 2 nanoparticle based on an epitaxial relationship of zone axis MoS 2 [100]//SnO 2 [ 1 ¯ 1 1 ¯ ] and MoS 2 [100]//SnO 2 [ 1 1 ¯ 1 ] and plane MoS 2 (011)//SnO 2 (011) in both cases. Serving as substrate for growth of desired 1T MoS 2 phase, smaller grain‐sized SnO 2 is in favor of more effective epitaxial growth of 1T MoS 2 . The epitaxial structure formed between 1T MoS 2 and SnO 2 of 3–5 nm ensures stable electron transfer and thus a much‐improved photocatalytic activity. Direct evidence of epitaxial construction of desired 1T MoS 2 nanosheets on SnO 2 nanoparticles is provided, which accounts for the synergetic improvement on photocatalytic activity of MoS 2 –SnO 2 composite photocatalysts.